Air China is one of three foreign carriers since last April that have announced their expansion to daily service through Bush Intercontinental.

Air China is one of three foreign carriers since last April that have announced their expansion to daily service through Bush Intercontinental.

Photo: Bill Montgomery

Korean Air expands its service to daily before its first flight

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

In less than a year, Houston has extended its reach across the globe and raised its profile as an international city, with new foreign air carriers and unprecedented demand for travel spanning far-reaching continents.

Korean Air, which recently announced nonstop service between Seoul and Houston, said Thursday that it now plans to offer a daily service between the two cities instead of only four flights a week. This announcement marks the third time an international carrier has expanded its service through Bush Intercontinental, activity Houston Airport System officials call unprecedented.

Since last April, Houston's largest airport has either marked or announced the arrival of three new international carriers; all three have increased the number of flights in that time, highlighting a pent-up demand for underserved markets in Asia and the Middle East.

Korean Air decided to expand its service before its May launch based on demand and initial reservations for the flight. In April, Turkish Airlines flew its first flight between Houston and Istanbul and has since begun daily service.

More Information

International Houston

Over the past 10 months, Bush Intercontinental Airport has announced new overseas service from three foreign carriers. All subsequently decided to increase the frequency of their flights. Domestic airlines also are expanding internationally.

1 Turkish Airlines: Began service between Houston and Istanbul in April and later expanded to daily.

1 Air China: Began nonstop flights to and from Beijing in July and will make it a daily flight next month.

1 Korean Air: Announced Thursday that demand was so great for new service between Seoul and Houston, which is scheduled to begin in May, that it will make the flight a daily.

1 United Airlines: Will launch nonstop service next month to Munich and add a second daily flight to Tokyo.

1 Southwest Airlines: Will begin offering international service from Hobby Airport in 2016, after the international terminal there is completed.

That was followed by Air China's new route from Houston to Beijing in July, marking the first time the Chinese carrier had added a destination in 30 years. It will begin offering daily service next month after officials called the Houston launch the most successful in the airline's history.

Growing air service

Airline analyst Darryl Jenkins called the activity a significant increase for such a short time, requiring a serious investment by the carriers.

"To increase service in that short of a time, the route has to be very successful," Jenkins said.

He said Houston, unlike Los Angeles and New York City, has not always been known as an international destination. But the new flights and the booming energy sector could change that.

"Sometimes it just takes time to get networks built up," he said.

Last year, the Houston Airport System reported that Bush set a record for international travelers with nearly 9 million, triple the number 20 years ago. Bush serves 68 international destinations and is the nation's top service provider to Mexico.

"This is definitely an exciting time for those of us who are tasked with attracting new airlines to the Houston market," said Ian Wadsworth, chief commercial officer at the Houston Airport System.

"Our pitch to the airlines is only as strong as Houston's economy and its demand for air service. Right now, we're able to present a very strong case to airlines operating around the world."

In addition, the two dominant U.S. airlines are expanding their international activity in Houston. Chicago-based United Airlines will launch a new nonstop service next month to Munich and a second daily flight to Tokyo. At Hobby Airport, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines will begin offering international service in 2016. The international terminal at the smaller airport will be complete by the end of 2015.

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

Molly Waits, the airport system's director of air service developments, said much of the increase in activity comes from business travelers. She said corporate clients look for flexibility and daily flights. She said there is a strong demand for nonstop, daily routes.

She predicted the new daily routes would give Houston greater business ties with China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

"The impact that it will have on Houston is tremendous," Waits said. "It's a big financial investment to start a new service in a new market. Very rarely do you see the flight go daily until it's built up."

She attributed the success in Houston to the strong economy and a pent-up market demand. She said the routes came in at the ideal time, with a booming economy and travel increasing between the countries.

Waits, who works to bring new carriers to the airport, said Korean Air acted in part because of the success of Air China's flight. She also pointed to the diversity of the city and the business connections between Houston and other countries.

"An airline could look at the market and see it's not as high-risk as they thought," Waits said.

When she started her job 10 years ago, she said Houston was not always an easy sell to airlines, especially in the Asian markets.

"In recent years, Houston has made a lot of headway in getting international exposure," she said. "That has helped open the market for tourism as well as business."

Bob Harvey, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, said global air service is increasingly important because the health of Houston's economy increasingly is tied to fostering international business ties.

"New international air routes are both reflective of the pace of the business activity in Houston, but also contribute to that pace," Harvey said. "We have a greater connectivity to the world."

Data from the Greater Houston partnership show international travel represented 7.8 percent of total air travel 25 years ago, and today it makes up 17.6 percent.

"We've passed a tipping point, and that's being recognized all over the world," Harvey said.